Drop-placer comb



EM. SCHULER.

DROP PIQMCER COMB. APPLICATION FILED APR 20, l92l.

11 3 745.; mmm flat-31,1922.

i'irated in Patents Patented Hot. 31, W22.

TEATH SCHULER, F WINGNA; Li'l'INNESOTA.

DBOPQLAOER COMB.

Application filed. April 20, 1921. Serial No. 463,367.

To aZZ whom 62? may concern:

Be it known that 1 Flinn MATH SCI-1U- iinn, a citizen oi? the United States, residing at inona int-he county oi? i i 'inona, State of lrlinnesota, have inventedthe new and iise'ii'il Drop-Placer Comb, ol which the following 21: a specification.

This invention relates to an article handii machine, and pzu'ticularly to a candy matting: machine in which a. group otp'ieces 'o't candy are fed on a belt or conveyor.

7 L19 device is particidaily adapted to he used with machine of the type well known as the liiihlggren stringer and wiich are illus- Nos. 94H,li'() and 9538,33S "in these machines. a number of candy pier-e1: or drops are fee so that the successive drops which are in a line will come C ectly under a small stream of chocolate dispensed by the string'e J and will thereby get a string; of chocolate directly aci ss their centers, it hasv been quite a proliileni in this art to efleetix'elv 'ieed a large number of candy di'o is and to provide mechanism "for eili riently arranging thenzin rows so that the will be properly as beneath the said streams oi chocolate or other substance.

it may he stated that Kihigrren stringers referred to are in connection withthe candy coating machines oi the type shown in the mtents to (arisen No. 790.184. htranted May H and 791.2423, granted lwflay 30, 1905. it i; an object of this invention to provide simple and eflicient means adapted to he used with the feeding: means for the pieces of candy or windy drops 2, apted to arrange said pieces or drops in rows as they are ted in the stringer.

it is a further object of the invention to provide device for this nurpose Comprising a comb having teeth depending adjacent the feeding; surface. which teeth are adapted to contact the drops as the latter pass the same.

It is still another object of the invention to provide such 1 comb havi a plurality of rows of teeth, the teeth in the respective rows being alternated in p sition and lying in planes extending at an angle to each other.

These and other objects of will he hilly set forth in, the follow descriotion made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout "-e different views, and in which w the invention nuts 3 applied to said shanks.

Fig. l is comb,

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is view in sine elevation thereof, as seen {rein the right of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the device is illustrated as comprising a bar 1 having a main central portion with a longitudinal slot extending; throi j substantially its entire len 't 'f The bar bent at right angles at its on .1 portion and its ends are again bent outwardlyfor e. short distance and provided with slots 1. These out-turned end portions form .ineans by which the bar can be conveniently holted or otherwise attached at each side of the feeding means of the candy machine. the inain portion '1 of the bar thus being; arranged to e tend above and across the feeding; means. A. plurality of teeth are provided hm threaded shanks at thi'iir upner ends which extend through the slot in bar 1 and have screwed thereon wedge clamping nuts. 8 by which they may he. clanipeiil in any desired position along said her. l rplurality of fiat bars 4 are provided having central slots 1 extending loiigitudinally thereof. Une end of each of these bars is disposed under the end or the land connected thereto by headed bolt .ing; through the slot i and projecting upwa dly through the slot and the bar 1. said bolts being provided with clamping nuts 3 ada JJte-d to claniijfthe bars 4: in any desired adjusted pos' lion along the bar 1.

The bars l have an npturned portion at their out; ends making a "slight angle with the main QQl QlOll thereof, which ends are apertured to receive the threaded shanks formed on the ends of teeth 5 these teeth being clamped in the ends of the bar 4 by wedge It will he noted that the teeth 2 and 5 are of angular or quadrilateral shape and have an angle thereo'l directed forwardly.

The bar 1 is adapted to be attached to the machine so that the teeth 2 and 5 have the position illustrated in 3, being); inclined rearwardly in the direction of travel of the conveyor with which they cooperate.

will also be noted that the teeth 5 are arranged alternately or in staggered relation is the feeding" meaias have? a view in front elevation 01": the

other by the teeth 2. This movement will be assisted and made gradual by the inclined sides of theteeth. As the pieces pass on further, they will also be contacted by the teeth 5 and. if too far to one side will again be moved laterally. The articles or pieces of candy will thus be arranged in straight rows and will be moved under the chocolate dispensing means in accurate position. It is necessary in handling the coated candy drops to have the spaced rows of teeth, for if it is attempted to have but one row and have the teeth closer together, the teeth soon become clogged with the coating of chocolate,

' or other substance, which greatly interferes with the operation. The rearward inclination of the teeth also results, in a more gradual movement of the drops or a more grad ual starting of the movement.

The present device has been amply demonstrated in practice and is found to work much better with round drops or] those that are in prisms or semi-circular shape than. does the vibrating grooved feeder belt Which has previously been used. 1

The device is extremely simple, easily attached to the machine andcan be provided at small expense.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, de-

tails and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generallystated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device adapted to be applied to an article feeding machine comprising a comb having a plurality of spaced rows of teeth, the teeth of one row alternating with the teeth in the other and the teeth of the respective rows extending in diverging planes.

2. An alining device adapted to be dis posed over a traveling feeding means comprising, a plurality of spaced rows of teeth, the adjacent sides of all said teeth being parallel and the teeth of respective rows lying in planes extending at an angle to each other.

8. A placing comb for a moving article feeding member comprising, aplurality of rows of depending teeth spaced in the direc tion of movement of said member, the teeth of one row alternating with those of another.

4. A placing comb adapted to be disposed over a traveling feeding means, comprising a plurality of spaced rows of depending teeth, said teeth being inclined to the vertical in the direction of travel of said feeding means.

5. A placing comb for a moving feeding means comprising, a row of teeth inclined in the direction of movement of said means, the front of said teeth being formed by laterally diverging planes.

6. A placing comb for a feeding means comprising a bar adapted to extend across and above said feeding means, a plurality of teeth longitudinally adjustable on said bar, a plurality of bars disposed between said teeth extending transversely of and longitudinally adjustable on said bar, each of said bars having a tooth depending therefrom.

7. A placing comb adapted to extend transversely over a moving feeding means comprising a plurality of rows of spaced depending teeth, the teeth of the respective rows being inclined in the direction of movement of said feeding means and all of said teeth terminating in a common plane.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

A. E. FISCHER, F LORENGE L. NORTON. 

